If the nature of life is to change, then Janey is no stranger – she describes herself as a “boat kid.” Her parents own a steel schooner 
called the Merimaid (read that again—it’s not the same name as the mythical woman with a fish’s tail), and they delight in using her for extensive travel around the world. And although Janey loves going on these adventures, they definitely get in the way of a lot of other things that come standard-issue with most childhoods: the comfort of stable floors, consistent power and screen time, and even making best friends.
Janey’s journey is as rough as the sea during a storm. She loves being a boat kid, but she also hates it; the all-encompassing loneliness is almost constant, but she also gets to experience a school of flying fish on the water at sundown – something most people (let alone kids her age) will never see. Her parents take her from Florida, to the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. It’s there that Janey finally, FINALLY, meets another boat kid roughly her age. But…Astrid (aboard the Valhalla) isn’t someone that Janey would ordinarily hang out with. She’s hard to get along with, guarded, and doesn’t seem to mind taking small risks that could result in big trouble. Janey doesn’t want to be alone, but with friends like Astrid, being alone doesn’t always sound so bad… or so Janey might think.
The art style is whimsical and soft – lots of rounded edges and a delicate, warm color pallet. I would describe it as “friendly.” This is a voyage you want to be on, even when you’re seasick. The text is easy to read and even employs some nifty affects when implying echoes.
The story is both a heartwarming and tear-inducing memoir about the author’s experiences with facing challenges while growing up in the years before easy access and widespread internet. Although her stories are unique, they are still relatable: never underestimate the healing power of a good scream, it’s okay to be pushed outside of your comfort zone, best friends are best friends – no matter how far away (and it’s normal to fight with them sometimes), and we all miss Carl Sagan.
There are hard discussions about abusive family members, so take heed if that brothers you. Read all the way through for the author’s notes on how she spent much of her early life sailing and living in a schooner that her parents were able to build and rig themselves through her father’s employer. Although the story is geared to be child-friendly, I would recommend it to anyone. It’s a quick read and although the subject matter can get heavy, it never feels dense or crowded.
It’s a delightful, fascinating story, and not many kids can call themselves “boat kids.” Take that, van families!
Sea Legs Vol.
By Jules Bakes
Art by Niki Smith
Scholastic GRAPHIX, 2025
ISBN: 9781338835885
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle grade (7-11), Tween (10-13), Teen (13-16)
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NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11), Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13)
